Editorial - Share the road with cyclists

Wednesday

Jun 19, 2013 at 10:30 PM

Deaths of bicyclists serve as a reminder that everyone must pay attention

The recent deaths of two bicyclists – one struck by a hit-and-run driver and the other the victim of injuries sustained in a pileup involving several fellow cyclists – highlight once again the need to emphasize that this community has a long way to go in making the roads safe for pedal-powered vehicles.Although the city of Wilmington and the N.C. Department of Transportation have built new, safer bike lanes and drivers around here are used to seeing people traveling by bicycle, in many places it is still far too dangerous for bicycles. And motorists often fail to pay attention or to give wide berth to bicyclists.While it can be disconcerting to see a cyclist traveling along a busy road such as College Road or Oleander Drive, those bikes have a perfect right to be there. But officials and cycling organizations still have work to do to allow bicycles and cars to live together in harmony on public streets, and to emphasize the need for bicyclists to make safety a priority.We see the results when that doesn't happen.Zachary Paul Tyler, 27, died June 13 after his bicycle was hit on Wrightsville Avenue. Investigators said a re-creation of the crash showed that Tyler was properly riding in the bike lane.The life of the 23-year-old woman charged in the hit-and-run will never be the same. If convicted, Judith Nemeth will have a criminal record and live with the knowledge that she not only struck and killed a man but fled the scene. Tyler's family and friends, meanwhile, have lost him for good.Only a few days later, a longtime advocate of safe cycling died from injuries sustained on June 12 in an accident as he and fellow cyclists were riding in close formation around Greenfield Lake. Terry Benjey, 69, was wearing his helmet, but he and several other cyclists got tangled up and crashed. He was injured after being thrown from his bike, and he died Monday at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.Benjey was a founding member of Cape Fear Cyclists, an organization that advocates for bike-friendly infrastructure, raises awareness that bicyclists have as much right as drivers to ride on public streets and promotes bicycle safety. Still, there is a lot left to be done. And bicyclists, too, must be more careful.How many times have you seen bicyclists blow through stoplights, weave in and out of traffic, fail to signal a turn, or violate other traffic laws? It is not unusual to see bicycles riding on the wrong side of the road – facing traffic – or to come upon a rider with no lights and wearing dark clothing at night, making them very difficult to see.If drivers must do a better job of sharing the road, so too must bicyclists obey traffic laws, and the police should ticket those who don't.Most do exercise caution, and bike-friendly groups such as the Cape Fear Cyclists stress safety above all else. But not all riders are bike enthusiasts. Those casual or occasional riders often are unaware of traffic laws – very few seasoned bike riders will travel against oncoming traffic, which is both unsafe for the cyclist and distracting for drivers.Many local drivers also have complained about scooters and mopeds, which do not require a driver's license. Crashes involving these increasingly popular vehicles are on the rise nationwide, and some education may be needed.Safety is everyone's responsibility. Drivers who endanger or harm bicyclists should be punished, and bike riders need to recognize that sharing the road also means obeying the same laws as motorists.